By Bose
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Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, known worldwide as Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’, has passed away, aged 35.
The ‘Sleeping Prince’ died on Saturday, July 19, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after spending nearly 20 years in a coma.
He slipped into a coma following a devastating car accident suffered in 2005 while studying as a cadet at a military academy in London. He was then 15 years old.
According to a Khaleej Times report, a brain hemorrhage during surgery left him unresponsive for the rest of his life.
The prince never regained full consciousness after the accident despite comprehensive care and involvement from medical experts from around the world.
Prince Alwaleed, born in April 1990, was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a prominent Saudi royal.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prince Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, his father, confirmed the news of his son’s passing. He wrote quoting a Quranic verse, “O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], and enter My Paradise… With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, and with deep sorrow, we mourn our beloved son.”
The Khaleej Times report stated that funeral prayers will be held on July 20, Sunday. For men, it will be held after Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. The service for women will be held after Dhuhr prayer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital.
Condolences will be accepted over three days from July 20 to July 22. Men can visit Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Palace in the Al-Fakhriyah district while women can visit the palace after Maghrib prayer.
A father’s love and devotion:
Prince Khaled bin Talal had hoped for his son’s recovery and refused to withdraw life support over the years.
During sacred Islamic occasions, from the final nights of Ramadan to Eid, he offered heartfelt prayers for his son, often sharing emotional updates and invocations on X.
The Khaleej Times report stated that, in June this year, on the third day of Eid al-Adha, Prince Khaled visited Alwaleed with his other sons and prayed publicly for his recovery.
After his accident, Prince Alwaleed was admitted into King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh and placed on a ventilator.
The family shared videos showing the prince responding slightly to Quran recitations, which attracted empathy and admiration globally on social media.
The prince’s life, medical challenges and struggle for survival reflected an enduring human spirit and family care and devotion.
